The Giambattista Valli Couture Show Sent Models Down the Runway With Next-Level "Glass Skin"

When it comes to romance, Giambattista Valli’s billowing gowns in layers of tulle and floral-inspired couture collections are always on point. The Italian designer, whose fans include Blake Lively, Kendall Jenner, and Lupita Nyong’o, has always championed a delicate, feminine beauty often featuring fresh faces or just-kissed red lips on his runway. This season, Valli was inspired by the Parisian music producer and musician Coucou Chloe who has created the soundtrack to Rihanna’s Fenty runway shows. Unlike the Valli girls of past seasons, his woman for his couture fall 2018 show is edgier and imbued with a sense of irreverence.

“It’s what I’d call the youth of today — strong, urban, and empowered. She’s strong; she’s tough and she’s real,” lead makeup artist Val Garland explained backstage. “It’s about having the confidence to be who you are.”

The beauty look started with fresh glowing, almost wet, skin as if the models just jumped out of the shower.

To ensure their skin was at its best, the models had facials from Orveda, a vegan bio-fermented skincare line using active ingredients. The team cleaned and moisturized the skin, and finished with its new Eye Unveiler 422 to combat under eye fatigue, which launched at the show and will be available Stateside in the fall.

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“It’s all about this incredible, glowing skin and after the facial, the skin is already glowing from within and we increase that flow so they just all looked a bit steamy, a bit sexy,” said Garland.

Garland applied a light foundation and concealer where needed to give the skin a flawless-looking finish. She then added a creamy brown shadow across the lids to enhance the natural shadow that falls across the eyes and finished with a clear glossy highlight that was massaged onto the entire face to give it a really wet finish.

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“I wanted her to feel like she was fresh out of the shower or fresh from dancing,” said Garland.

Some of the models sported hand tattoos with the initials of their favorite designer: GBV. Using a blue shade of M.A.C.’s Pro Longwear Fluideline Gel Liner, the makeup artists painted them on wrists, fingers and across knuckles.

As for the hair, Orlando Pita kept everything simple. Those with netted veils sported a center part with soft waves and for the others, he created a voluminous bob topped pulled back with a black headband topped with a bow.